How HIV is passed on
A man with HIV can pass it on to another man via his:
- blood
- cum
- pre-cum (clear fluid that comes from the penis when you're turned on)
There's also enough HIV in the coating of the inside of the anus to pass the infection on.
These are the only body fluids that have enough HIV in them to infect someone else.
It is not possible to infect someone through spit, sweat or urine.
What kind of sex is risky?
Any sex that lets infected blood or cum into another man's body and then into his bloodstream could pass on HIV.
Most men pick it up or pass it on during anal sex without a condom (either fucking or being fucked). A smaller number get it from giving someone oral sex.
Other types of sex - such as mutual masturbation, rimming, or kissing - are safer. But doing these could put you at risk of picking up or passing on other sexually transmitted infections
Sex can never be totally free of risks. But some sex is riskier than other kinds of sex. It's up to you to decide what level of risk you are happy with.
Top or bottom?
The risk of getting HIV is greatest when infected sperm gets inside an anus. The lining of the anus is delicate and easily torn, and can absorb liquids. This lets HIV get through the lining and into the bloodstream.
This means that if you do not have HIV, there's less risk of getting HIV if you're doing the fucking (being top or active). If you're HIV positive, then being fucked (being bottom or passive) means there's less risk of passing on HIV.
But there is still a real risk of getting HIV if you're the active partner (doing the fucking). HIV can still get into your bloodstream through:
- the skin of your foreskin
- the head of your penis
- your urethra (the pipe that urine comes down)
More partners
Every man you have unprotected sex with means another chance of HIV being passed on. The more men you have sex with, the more chance you've got of having sex with a man with either a different HIV status to you, or another sexually transmitted infection.
Long, short,rough or gentle
The longer you have unprotected sex for, the more chance there is of HIV being passed on. This is because there's more chance of bleeding, or sore skin, or cum and pre-cum getting inside you. Similarly, heavy, forceful sex means more chance of damage.
